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Duane Rankin
Arizona Republic | USA TODAY NETWORK
We know what you want to know.
So does James Jones. The Republic sat down with the Phoenix Suns general manager Friday morning to discuss several topics starting with the obvious.
Why didn't Kevin Durant end up in Phoenix?
The two-time finals MVP demanded a trade out of Brooklyn, put the Miami Heat and Suns atop his trade wish list, but remains with the Nets. “'Cause Brooklyn wanted to keep Kevin Durant in Brooklyn,' Jones said. 'And that’s why he’s in Brooklyn and not on some other team, but as far as with us, I get it. It’s always a great topic of discussion, but the one thing people forget is that when you’re talking about trades, or any player acquisition, the team that has the player has to be willing to move the player.”
Here's the first half of a two-part interview with the man who said there were discussions with the Nets about Durant, but not deep ones.
“Nothing to it,' Jones said. 'Not much discussion, in-depth discussion on it. I think every team in the league probably called them to check their temperature to see what it looked like, but as far as discussions and how deep they got? I just say there’s nothing to it.”
Q: This may sound crazy to ask to start, but how’s your summer gone?
JJ : “Man, it’s great. The first extended offseason in a few years. Excited to get back to it. Recharged and ready for the season. It’s been really good. Really good.
Q: With training camp a little more than two weeks away, are you looking to add to the roster or staying pat? Where are you at with roster construction right now?
JJ : “Always in evaluation mode. Always looking. Right now, we’re at 16 guys (14 standard, two two-way). There’s a chance I may add a couple more guys for training camp, but I think we’re close to the end of where we’ll be as far as our training camp roster goes.”
Q: Want to rewind. Free agency starts June 30. Where were you when you found out that Kevin Durant wanted to not only be traded out of Brooklyn, but Phoenix was one of his top choices along with Miami and what was your initial interaction?
JJ : “Trade speculation. Initial reaction is like that’s someone outside of our organization talking. I take it like I do most things. I take it in passing and I keep moving.”
Q: Did you have much interaction with Durant prior to this news? How well do you know him?
JJ : “I know Kevin. Professionally, I knew him. We spent a lot of time in the NBA, but not outside of the game. Playing the game and respect for the craft and talked to him. Nothing more outside of the business of two teams playing and just showing respect as guys walk off the court.”
Q: How serious were the discussions for having Kevin possibly come to Phoenix?
JJ : “We had discussions with Brooklyn about their desires and what they were trying to do, but ultimately, I would say like most teams, there was nothing to it.”
Q: When you say, nothing to it. Can you just expand on that because I’m trying to figure that out. What do you mean by that?
JJ : “Nothing to it. Not much discussion, in-depth discussion on it. I think every team in the league probably called them to check their temperature to see what it looked like, but as far as discussions and how deep they got? I just say there’s nothing to it.”
Q: When you look at the Nets, they reportedly wanted multiple first round picks. An All-Star, rotation player. You have all those on your team. So ultimately why didn’t this happen?
JJ : “Cause Brooklyn wanted to keep Kevin Durant in Brooklyn. And that’s why he’s in Brooklyn and not on some other team, but as far as with us, I get it. It’s always a great topic of discussion, but the one thing people forget is that when you’re talking about trades, or any player acquisition, the team that has the player has to be willing to move the player. And so if they’re not moving the player, which they didn’t, it’s just conversation and it’s great discussion. Great interest for the NBA fan base and the team fan base.”
Q: For Suns fans, the perception was you guys aren’t making enough of an effort to make that happen. Is that a fair assessment, or not?
JJ : “I reserve the right to not have an opinion on that. There is no answer for that. No matter what you do? My focus is always to try to do what’s in the best interest of the team and try to improve the team. We made those efforts. If it comes to fruition, great. If they don’t, we still have a goal of improving our team and if that’s internally with the guys that we have, we’re very confident in that. I don’t pay attention to what the fans think or parties outside of the conversations think because they’re working with limited and incomplete information.”
Q: Looking at Mikal Bridges, there was a story that came out about him being linked to a possible Durant trade and he tweeted “I’m sitting here watching just like y'all.” He’s seeing what’s out there. Was that something the Nets were looking at because it seemed like Mikal was a piece that any team would want?
JJ : “Mikal’s watching and he’s watching reports and third parties report about him. I get it. Being a player on both sides of it, I truly understand it, but it’s a testament to Mikal’s ability. He’s a really good player. So I would assume any time someone is linked to us, a good player is linked to us, that our good players will be brought up by someone. It’s the nature of it, but I think speaking to Mikal, he understands the business. He understands he’s put himself in a position to be regarded as a defensive player of the year candidate (finished second in the voting last season). Any discussion around great players, I would assume he’d be one of the first guy’s names that’s going to be thrown out there.'
“I don’t negotiate in the media. So I can't really talk too much about, like, what teams would want and all the rest of that stuff.”
Q: I talked with Cam Johnson at his 3-on-3 (tournament) and like you were saying, he understands it’s part of the business because his name was also leaked to a possible Durant trade. Where are you guys now with him moving forward? He’s up for a rookie extension. Has improved every year.
JJ : “We’re having discussions. Cam is a big part of what we do. Really excited for the progress he’s shown over the last few years, especially last year. I think he’s primed to take some steps forward. We’re excited about this team and we’re excited about the guys on this team one through 16. He’s definitely someone we’re going to need to have take another step if we want to continue to progress and grow as a group.”
Q: Anything you want to add or clarify regarding the Durant situation?
JJ : “No. Your questions have been straight. Questions about Durant, how serious it was. Whether or not there's anything to it. That's why I go back to there's nothing to it.”
Jones is a master deflector. But how else are you going to play it?
